Sen. John Proos comments on governor’s budget plan

LANSING, Mich. — After listening to Gov. Rick Snyder’s presentation of his proposed Fiscal Year 2017 state budget on Wednesday, Sen. John Proos, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement:

“The governor’s budget recommendation brings our state closer to the way Southwest Michigan families manage their household budgets — meeting challenges while living within our means.

“We must ensure that our tax dollars are used effectively and efficiently to support the most important functions of state government — educating our children, protecting our communities and creating an environment for economic growth and job creation.

“I strongly support the governor’s proposal to increase funding for all levels of education. This positive plan increases funding for local schools by up to $120 per student and invests $1 billion into the school employee retirement system to support our retirees and enable schools to direct more resources into the classroom — for an average savings of $660 per student.

“I am proud of the governor’s continued focus on career and technical education and his call for increased funding for job skills training. I have long supported this rigorous area of study that can help prepare all Michigan children for success and also meet the skilled workforce needs of a growing economy. As a member of the state’s new MiSTEM Advisory Council, I will continue to work to ensure all Michigan students are given the tools they need to be successful, obtain a well-paying job and achieve the American Dream.

“While we’ve accomplished much in five years to energize our economy and help businesses create jobs, we still face challenges. I look forward to working with the governor to meet our challenges and create a better, stronger Michigan.”

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Editor’s note: Audio comments by Proos will be available on the senator’s website at www.SenatorJohnProos.com. Click on “Audio” under the Media Center tab.